ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been acquitted in the iddat case, also known as the un-Islamic nikah case. The district and sessions court on Saturday accepted their pleas seeking annulment of their conviction, providing much-needed relief for the couple.
Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced the short order, stating that Khan and Bushra should be released immediately if they are not wanted in any other cases.
The couple was previously sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs500,000 each in February, after a trial court deemed their nikah fraudulent based on a complaint by Bushra’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka. They subsequently challenged their conviction and sought various forms of relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In the 28-page verdict, the court highlighted that Maneka had remained passive for about six years, causing his right of Ruju (the reconciliation period after divorce) to expire. The court concluded that Maneka failed to prove his case against Khan and Bushra, and therefore ordered their immediate release.
Additionally, the court rejected petitions for the formation of a medical board and consultations with religious scholars.
This acquittal is particularly significant for Khan, who has been behind bars since August last year due to convictions in multiple cases, including the Toshakhana criminal case. Despite securing relief in several other cases, Khan remained imprisoned due to the iddat case. He has also been granted bail in several cases registered on May 9 in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
Last month, the IHC instructed the district court to decide on the pleas seeking suspension of the sentence within 10 days and on the pleas challenging the conviction within a month. However, on June 27, Judge Majoka rejected the couple’s pleas for suspension of their sentence.
Background of the Iddat Case
The iddat case began when a petitioner claimed that Bushra married Khan on January 1, 2018, before her iddat period had ended following her November 2017 divorce. Although a district court initially rejected this plea, Bushra’s ex-husband Maneka later filed a complaint on November 25, 2023. The couple was indicted on January 16, 2024, and sentenced to seven years each on February 3. Following multiple appeals, today’s verdict annulled their conviction, bringing a significant relief to both Khan and Bushra.
